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Government must target job creation to regions with the highest levels of unemployment

Speaking at a meeting of the Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation today Sinn Féin spokesperson Peadar Tóibín TD challenged Minister Richard Bruton on the government’s failure to increase employment and to address the needs of rural communities.

Deputy Tóibín said;

“The government launched the Jobs Action Plan with the promise to create 100,000 additional jobs by 2016. Since the launch of this plan the government has shredded 16,000 jobs in the public sector. Despite the best efforts of business this left a net jobs loss of 4,300 across the economy.

“It is clear that unemployment levels are being held in check by emigration.

“Government policy is failing to tackle unemployment and in particular it is failing to address those regions most in need of work. The government has failed to meet its own target of 50% of jobs outside of Cork and Dublin.

“We have regions in the South East, Midlands and along the border that have unemployment levels in excess of the state wide average. The government needs to target resources to meet the needs of these communities and to create equality in access to jobs opportunities.”